Rajasthan panchayat poll delay: Gehlot slams Bhajanlal govt for 'gross administrative failure'
Synopsis
The Rajasthan High Court's oral threat to conduct panchayat elections itself — after the State Election Commission sent six unanswered letters seeking reservation data — has handed Congress leader Ashok Gehlot a potent political weapon against the Bhajanlal Sharma government, exposing a breakdown between the state administration and its own constitutional bodies.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Gehlot on 17 July accused the Bhajanlal Sharma government of 'gross administrative failure' over the delay in Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections in Rajasthan .
The Rajasthan High Court orally remarked on 16 July : 'If the Commission cannot conduct elections, let us know; judges will get it done.' The State Election Commission had written six letters to the Panchayati Raj Department seeking SC, ST, OBC and women's reservation data — with no response.
The court directed the government to place the OBC Commission's report on record and complete the reservation process by 20 July .
Officials have been asked to appear in person at the next hearing with a full election schedule; the BJP government has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Indian National Congress (INC) leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday, 17 July launched a sharp attack on the Bhajanlal Sharma government over the prolonged delay in Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, citing a pointed oral observation from the Rajasthan High Court that it would arrange to conduct the polls itself if the State Election Commission could not. Gehlot described the court's remark as evidence of the ruling government's 'gross administrative failure' and called the situation 'shameful.'
What the High Court Said
During a hearing on Thursday, 16 July, the Rajasthan High Court expressed strong dissatisfaction over the protracted delay in the electoral process. The court orally remarked: 'If the Commission cannot conduct elections, let us know; judges will get it done.' The bench also directed the state government and the State Election Commission to submit a concrete road map for holding the Panchayat and ULB elections, and asked the government to place the OBC Commission's report on record and complete the reservation process by 20 July. Officials were further directed to appear in person at the next hearing with a complete election schedule.
Gehlot's Allegations Against the Government
Reacting to the court's observations, Gehlot alleged in a post on X: 'What could be more shameful for the state government than the fact that, due to the deliberate delay in Panchayat and local body elections, the Hon'ble High Court had to say, "If the Commission cannot conduct elections, let us know; judges will get it done." This is proof of the Rajasthan government's gross administrative failure.'
Gehlot further pointed to submissions made before the court revealing that the State Election Commission had written six letters to the Panchayati Raj Department seeking reservation details for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and women — and had received no response. He alleged this indicated the department was functioning under government pressure, and that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration had no genuine intention of holding elections on time.
Constitutional Concerns Raised
'The government is rendering constitutional institutions ineffective,' Gehlot said. He accused the Rajasthan government of repeatedly disregarding court directions, calling it an affront to constitutional principles and the judiciary. 'A government that fails to respect the judiciary and obstructs democratic processes has no moral or constitutional right to remain in power. Such a situation is highly detrimental to democracy,' he added.
Government's Position
As of the time of reporting, the Bhajanlal Sharma government had not publicly responded to Gehlot's allegations. The state's next court appearance — where officials are required to present in person with full election schedule details — is expected to bring further clarity on the government's timeline for conducting the long-pending polls.
Point of View
Not mere procedural delay. The BJP's silence in the face of both the court's rebuke and Gehlot's broadside is telling: with reservation calculations politically sensitive ahead of the polls, the government appears to be buying time at the cost of constitutional propriety. The July 20 deadline will be the first real test of whether the Bhajanlal Sharma administration can separate electoral strategy from institutional obligation.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have Rajasthan panchayat and urban local body elections been delayed?
The elections have been delayed primarily because the Panchayati Raj Department has not provided the State Election Commission with the reservation data it needs for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and women. According to submissions before the Rajasthan High Court, the Commission sent six letters seeking this information but received no response.
What did the Rajasthan High Court say about the election delay?
During a hearing on 16 July, the Rajasthan High Court orally remarked: 'If the Commission cannot conduct elections, let us know; judges will get it done.' The court also directed the government to submit a road map for elections, place the OBC Commission's report on record, and complete the reservation process by 20 July.
What is Ashok Gehlot's criticism of the Bhajanlal Sharma government?
Gehlot, the former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, has called the delay a 'gross administrative failure' and accused the BJP government of deliberately stalling the elections. He also alleged the government has repeatedly disregarded court directions, which he termed an affront to constitutional principles.
What happens next in the Rajasthan election delay case?
The Rajasthan High Court has set 20 July as the deadline for completing the reservation process and placing the OBC Commission's report on record. Officials have been directed to appear in person at the next hearing with complete details of the election schedule.
Who is responsible for conducting panchayat elections in Rajasthan?
The Rajasthan State Election Commission is constitutionally responsible for conducting Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections. However, it depends on the state's Panchayati Raj Department for reservation data, the absence of which has stalled the electoral process.
